Emerus Holdings Inc., the nation’s leader in building and operating small-format hospitals, is proud to announce the addition of Dan Hernandez as the CEO of its WellSpan Health Market. He will work alongside David Maxwell, Senior Vice President of Operations – East Division.
WellSpan, which partners with Emerus through a joint venture agreement, is one of the nation’s leading hospital systems. Its acute care hospitals provide high-quality emergency and in-patient care that serves residents across central Pennsylvania. Through their partnership, Emerus and WellSpan are set to open three new hospitals in early 2026: WellSpan Newberry Hospital, WellSpan Carlisle Hospital and WellSpan Shrewsbury Hospital.
“We are thrilled to welcome Dan Hernandez to the Emerus leadership team,” said Vanessa Smith, Chief Operating Officer at Emerus. “His extensive background in healthcare administration, coupled with his leadership experience in both civilian and military settings, aligns perfectly with our mission to provide accessible, high-quality care to communities across the nation.”
Hernandez joins Emerus from Lehigh Valley Health Network, where he served as Administrator for Family and Internal Medicine. He was instrumental in providing healthcare services to about 400,000 patients annually as part of the network’s leadership team. Prior to this role, he served as Executive Administrator for Emergency Services at UPMC, overseeing operations, finances and patient experience for a comprehensive network that included seven Emergency Departments, four Observation Units, 16 Urgent Care locations, and an EMS agency serving six counties.
Hernandez’s career also includes eight years in the military health system. He welcomed home combat-wounded service members, supported their families at the Bethesda Naval Hospital, and optimized operational processes across multiple clinical departments at Fort Belvoir Community Hospital.
Hernandez served on active duty in the U.S. Marine Corps, deploying to Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003, 2004 and 2005. He became an Iraqi Language and Culture Instructor, training Marines to build effective rapport with local populations. He received the Purple Heart, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, and the Combat Action Ribbon. Hernandez holds an MBA and a bachelor’s degree in business management from the University of Phoenix.
